Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Read October 2009. 
Photo courtesy Wikipedia.

The Scoop: Written by Jonathan Safran Foer (US), who debuted to overwhelming acclaim with Everything Is Illuminated. Published by Houghton Mifflin in 2005. One of the first fictional novels to incorporate the September 11th attacks (specifically those of the Twin Towers) as a theme and major plot point.

The Ingredients: First-person narration primarily through the eyes of young Oskar Schell, but also through letters written by his grandparents, addressed to Oskar or his father. The parallel stories revolve around devastation dealt by single tragic events - the 9/11 attacks that killed Oskar's father, and the WWII Allied bombing of Dresden, Germany, the hometown of Oskar's grandparents. Oskar finds a key he believes belonged to his father and embarks on a journey to discover how it relates to his father's death, as he is sure there is an answer there. Also interspersed throughout the novel are pictures, blank and nearly-blank pages, different type and formatting, etc, to create another level and make connections.

Serves: Most age groups. Some sexual descriptions, but mostly suitable for even preteen/elementary-schoolers (I can see myself having read this in elementary school had it been available).

[Chapter 1] What The?: What about a teakettle? What if the spout opened and closed when the steam came out, so it would become a mouth, and it could whistle pretty melodies, or do Shakespeare, or just crack up with me? [5/5 Draws you in and also gives great insight to the creative mind of the narrator.]

Result: A really beautiful presentation of a story. It'd be hard to not feel for and be touched by young Oskar (although I sheepishly admit he occasionally got on my nerves). I loved the formatting, the characters (their complexities and details, their stories, their interactions with Oskar), and how Foer connects everything. It's a very moving novel and feels so real - I could just picture everything happening as it happened - and I genuinely wanted this earnest and sensitive boy to be real even though his life has been touched with such tragedy. It was so refreshing to see the world through his eyes, because though he is only 9 years old and approaches things with childlike naivete and emotion, he also possesses a maturity proving he is wise beyond his years. I really enjoyed it and was moved to tears by the end. [5/5 Superb writing and story. Would definitely read and enjoy this again.]

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Read October 2009.
Photo courtesy Wikipedia. 

The Scoop: Thriller novel by Lionel Shriver (US). Published by UK-based Serpent's Tail, first in 2003. Won the 2005 Orange Prize, UK-based prize awarded to female authors of any nationality writing in English. BBC Films acquired film adaptation rights to the story in 2005, but a series of issues and delays has plagued the adaptation. Script appeared on 2008 Brit List, a ranking of the best unproduced screenplays in British film compiled by the film industry. Currently, the film is scheduled to be filmed in 2010, with Steven Soderbergh named as one of the executive producers and actress Tilda Swinton signed on to star.

The Ingredients: In the form of letters written in first-person by Eva Khatchadourian addressed to her husband. Through the letters, Eva attempts to come to terms with her son Kevin and the murders he committed during a (fictional) school massacre. She talks about present events while delving back into their history to try and figure out what happened and what led Kevin to his depraved act.

Serves: Mature readers. Detailed recounts and descriptions of very disturbing and scary acts and events, violence, strong language, sexual innuendo.

November 8, 2000: Dear Franklin, I'm unsure why one trifling incident this afternoon has moved me to write to you.

Result: Absolutely breathtaking. I first heard of this title when I stumbled across a list/article of ten disturbing must-read books or something like that. I wrote down all the titles, but this one in particular jumped off the page for me because I've always found the sort of 'inside the killer's mind' type of thing fascinating and wanted a look for myself. And this book really delivers. Shriver is a stellar storyteller and writer, and her awesome vocabulary is a bonus. I couldn't put this book down, and when I had to, I'd be chilled to the bone and I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd read up to that point and speculating about what would come next. It stirs up incredible emotion and is so intricate that it is easy to forget that this particular story is (thankfully) fiction, though unfortunately, not entirely invented. It is an incredible exploration into the nature vs. nurture debate, though don't expect any clear-cut answers. [5/5 Fantastic writing, gripping story, thought-provoking detail, complex and real characters, strong emotion. This book will definitely leave a lasting impression on you, but be prepared, it may be easy-to-read because it is well-written, but it is not, by any measure, an easy read.]

Holidays On Ice

Read October 2009.
Photo courtesy Amazon. 

The Scoop: A collection of short stories and personal essays by David Sedaris (US), published in 1997 by Little, Brown and Company.

The Ingredients: The collection included previously published stories/essays (the first 2 I recognized from Barrel Fever - "SantaLand Diaries" and "Season's Greetings to Our Friends and Family!!!") and some new ones. All are based around the holiday season, as the title suggests. "Season's Greetings..." is a short story in the form of a Christmas letter that strays far from the norm, as Mrs. Dunbar, writing on behalf of the family, is forced to deal with some unsavory circumstances, but still tries to maintain a cheerful festive tone. "Dinah, the Christmas Whore" is a recounting of the night Sedaris (and the rest of his family) discover a new meaning to "ho, ho, ho". "Front Row Center with Thaddeus Bristol" is an honest review of the local school's Christmas plays/pageants. A man who works in the TV industry gives a sermon pleading the congregation for help in an ultimate heartwarming story in "Based on a True Story". Holidays on Ice ends with "Christmas Means Giving", a story that spirals into the most extreme showdown of generosity.

Serves: Adult, maybe even down to highschool-er age - there's nothing that I can remember being of extreme offense. But even though it's partially marketed as a holiday season collection of stories, it remains a grown-up book - don't sit the kiddies 'round the fireplace after the family Christmas feast and do a read-aloud with this one (note the stiff drink on the book cover).

"SantaLand Diaries": I was in a coffee shop looking through the want ads when I read, "Macy's Herald Square, the largest store in the world, has big opportunities for outgoing, fun-loving people of all shapes and sizes who want more than just a holiday job! [3.5/5]

Result: The two stories that I previously read in Barrel Fever obviously came as no surprise. I don't think I re-read them, as they were still pretty fresh in my memory. As I've mentioned, I prefer Sedaris's autobiographical essays to his fictional stories, so "Dinah" satisfied me well (double entendre not intended). The other three stories also had their own merits, and were mostly quite funny. Sedaris continues to impress me with his ability/gift to bring such unique and relatable characters to life. A nice easy read - you don't have to wait for the holidays to read it (as I chose not to do as well), but I can see how it would make one's holidays more spirited and amusing! [4/5 Prefer it to Barrel Fever in terms of material, but also theme, because I just love the winter holidays. Easy to read, sometimes tough to put down, entertaining, and witty.]